Seed-drill.



No. 7|2,323. Patented Oct. 2a, |902.

A. McwHoRTr-m.

. SEED DRILL# n l (Appnpation med Jun@ 4, 1902.) l v (No'ModelJ' Y A 4Sh9ets-ShetL llll No. 7|2,323. Patented (m23, |902.-

' A. McwHonTEn.

S E E D D R I LL (Application filed June 4, 1902.)

4 Shgets-Shef 2.

(No Model.)

lillllllillillllifl Lamm @Wognum Patented Oct. v23,v |902.

No, 7|2,s23.

S E E D D R l L L. (App'ucation med June 4, 1902.)

v 4 Sheets-Sheet -3.

(Nq-Model.)

No. 7|2,323. Patent-ed oct. 28,4902.

A. Mnwnoren.

ySEED DRILL.

(Application filed June 4, 1902.) (No Model.)

. NITE STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN MCWHORTER, OF RIVERTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO MCWHOR- TER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SEED-DRILL;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,323, dated October 28, 1902. Application filed June 4, 1902. Serial No. 110,156. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom' t may concern.:

Be it known that I, ALLEN MOWHORTER,

thereof, taken from the opposite side,with the handle omitted. F-ig. 3 represents atop plan, on an enlarged scale, with the handle and hopper omitted. Fig. LLrepresents a top plan of the hopper in detail. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of the runner-and accompanying parts in detail. Fig. 6 represents a rear end elevation thereof. Fighil represents a side elevation of a sprocket-wheel mounted on the front wheel of the drill. Fig. 7 represents a sectional View of the axle of the front wheel, taken on the lines :c c of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 represents a side elevation of the front wheel in detail. Fig.. 9 represents a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line m/ Fig. 15. Fig. 10 represents a detail, partially in section, of a-portion of the hub of the front wheel. taken on the line y y of Fig. 10.` Fig. 12 represents a front elevation in detail of the seed-V valve. Fig. 13 represents a side elevation of.

spective view of the valve. Fig. 20 represents a perspective view of an adjustingscrew employed in connection with the valve. Fig. 21 represents a perspective View of a cam for adjusting the valve.

Fig. 22 repre- Fig. 11 represents a section thereof,

sents a top plan of the chute, slide, valve, and agitator-s. Fig. 23 represents a fragmentary side elevation of the front wheel and runner. larged scale, a sectional view of the runner. Fig. 25 represents a fragmentary view of the rear wheel. Fig. 26 represents a plan showing a transverse section of the hill formed by Fig. 27 represents .a sec- 6o removable plate employed on the side of the runner. Fig. 30 represents a vertical section of certain detached portions of the device. Fig. 31 represents a portion of a front wheel of slightly-modiiied form.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor- 7o responding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the frame of the machine, the same being provided with bearings at the front and rear ends for the axles of the wheels 2 and 3. The 75 front wheel 2 consists of two sections 4, whose peripheries are concave and form in conjunction with each other approximately a halfcircle. The inner edges of these sections are separated a little distance, so that the front 8o end of the runner or furrow-opener can extend between the same. Said sections are supported upon the hub 6, Fig. 7, by means of spokes 7, -the outer ends of which are de- `flected and join one of the sections, while the flanges 8 on the other section are bolted to said spokes, as shown'inFig. 3. The hubs 6 are free to rotate upon the tubular axle 10, which is mounted at its ends in bearings 11 in the front end of the frame 1, and a rod 12 9o passes through the axle 10, being provided with a head 13 atone end and a washer 14 at the other end to hold the parts in place and prevent the end of the frame from spreading.

Rigidly mounted upon one end ofthe hub 6 95 is a cam-wheel 15, and a sprocket-wheel 16 is mounted upon the reduced portion o'f the other end of the hub, being held in position by a washer 17. The said sprocket-wheel can rotate upon the hub, and I have provided roo means for connecting it with the hub, so that it rotates therewith. Said means are best Fig. 24 represents, on an en- 55 shown in Figs. 6, 8, 10, and ll and consists ofa projection 18 upon the hub of the sprocket" wheel and a projection 19 upon the hub 6 of said wheel 2. Mounted upon one of the spokes 7 of the front wheel is a movable block 20, the same being provided with a slotted shank 2l, through which passes a screw 22, provided with a thumb-nut 23. As shown in Figs. 8, 10, and 11, the block is movable beyond the outer edges of the projections 18 and 19, so that the sprocket-wheel is free to rotate upon the hub of wheel 2; but when it is desired to cause these parts to rotate together said block is moved inwardly to stand between the said projections, as shown in Fig. 6, while in Fig. 11 the position of the projections 18 and 19 are shown when the block is about to be moved inwardly between the same. Of course the contact of the block with the projection 18 of the sprocket-wheel will cause these parts to rotate together; but there would be such a strain upon the block that it would require a very strong connection between the block and the spoke, so that by employing projection 19, against which the block rests when it is in Contact with projection 18, said block is not subject to any strain and only acts as a connecting means between the two projections, one of which practically bears against the other.

The rear wheel is provided with a central concave portion 24, from the outer edges of which are the daring portions 25, which form a hill of the shape shown in Fig. 26, which will be referred to hereinafter.

The runner or furrow-opener 5, Figs. 5, 6, and 24, tapers toward its forward end and is provided with upwardly-extending arms 26 and 27, the arm 26 tting within a socket 28, Fig. 3, mounted upon the frame, being held by a set-screw 29, while the arm 27 extends through an opening 30 in the rear of said socket 28. By means of the said screw 29 the runner can be vertically adjusted.

The width of the forward end of the runner is such that it extends into the space between the sections 4 on the front wheel, the tip or point 31 of the runner being curved upwardly, so that its extremity is situated within the periphery of the wheel, as shown in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines, Fig. 24. The rear part of the runner is hollow and is provided with passages 32 and 33, both of which communicate at the upper ends with the chamber 34, while at the upper end of the partition 35, forming passages 32 and 33, is a valve 36, operated by a handle 37 on the outside of the runner, as shown in Fig. 15. A spring or other frictional device 38 is situated between the handle 37 and the side of the runner to hold the valve in its adjusted position.

shape. The other channel 33 leads to the cylindrical chamber 40 at the lower portion of the runner.

Within the chamber 40 is rotatably mounted a wheel 41, having a plurality of pockets 42 extending inwardly from the periphery thereof. The wheel is shown as provided with three pockets, although it is understood that it may be replaced by other wheels having a different number of pockets, and for this purpose the side of the runner is provided with a removable plate 43, shown in Fig. 27 and which is shown as removed from Fig. 24. Thus when the plate 43 is removed the wheel 41 can be readily removed and replaced with other wheels containing different numbers of pockets. The plate is provided with an opening that receives a stud 44, and by means of bolts 47X, passing through openings 45, said plate can be held in place. For rotating the wheel the latter is provided, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, with a plurality of teeth 46, that are on the side of the wheel adjacent to plate 43, it being noted that the said wheel is mounted upon shaft 47, having suitable bearings between the sides of the runner. Mounted upon the face ot' the plate 43 is a gear 48, inter-meshing with the teeth 46 'and with another gear 49, mounted upon the shaft 50, that passes through. the runner and is connected with the sprocket-wheel 51 on the outside of the runner, said sprocket-wheel being geared to the sprocket-wheel 16 by means of the sprocket-chain 52. Thus when the sprocket-wheel 16 is connected with the shaft of the front wheel 4 said wheel 41 will be rotated in an obvious manner.

The upper end of the chamber 34 is open and is connected with the spout 53, that leads upwardly to the frame 1 of the machine and is situated just below the opening 54 therethrough. The seed-hopper 55 is supported by means of a chute 56 and bracket 5S, the latter being bolted to'the frame 1 at its lower end and at its upper end to the underside of the chute 56, (see Fig. 15,) it being noted that said chute is provided with lugs 6l, which have openings 57 therein,throngh which bolts 59 are passed, so as to secure the hopper 55 to said chute. This chute 56 extends in an inclined position and is provided with a top piece 62, (see Figs. 3, 18, and 22,) While the bottom of the chute is formed with an opening 60, for a purpose hereinafter described. The chute 56 is provided with lugs 64 to enable said chut-e to be bolted to the frame 1, as een in Fig. 15. (See also Figs. 3, 17, and 22.

The chute 56 is formed with openings 65, which serve as guides to receive the end portions of the agitator 67. The agitator 67 is provided with shoulders 68, as best seen in Fig. 16. The agitator 67 is formed with an opening 74 and the anges 75. Upon the out side of the agitator 67 is arranged the valve 76, the lower end of which is provided with an inwardly -tapering notch 77, having a ICO IIO

sharpened edge and situated opposite the opening 74 in the agitator 67. The upper end or shank of the valve 76 is provided with a slot 78, through which extends the bolt or pin 79, by which the agitator and valve 76 are connected. The upper end of the shank of the valve 76 is provided with a lug or shoulder 80, and mounted upon the bolt 79 and against the outer face of the valve is a cam S1, that is adapted to engage said lug 8O and by means of which the valve 76 may be adjusted so as to regulate the size of the opening through which the seed can pass from the chute 56.;

The said agitator, the valve, and the cam are secured by the nut 82, which can be readily loosened to permit the adjustment of the valve 76.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 16, the forward end of the agitator 67 is connected, by means of a hook 63, with a spring 84, that is fastened at its other end toa hook 85, projecting from the frame 1, said spring serving to move the slide, agitator, and valve in one direction. For moving these parts in the opposite direction I employ the cam-wheel 15, that rotates with the front wheel and engages a link 86, suitably guided at its end adjacent the camwheel and pivotally connected at its other end with the agitator 67 conveniently by the hook end 87 of said link, that engages an opening 88 in said agitator. Thus when the cam rotates it causes the valve 76 to vibrate across the opening 70 at the lower end of the chute 56. (See Figs. 9 and 17.)

I n Fig. 31 I have shown a fragmentary View of a portion of the front wheel having a fiat tire or rim in contradistinction to the concave rim shown in Fig. 23. When this form is used, the wheel does not sink into the ground, but rolls upon the surface thereof.

`In Fig. 1 I have shown a shovel or scraper 89, pivotally secured to the rear end of the runner 5, that is adapted to cover the seed after it has been deposited in the furrow made by the runner.

The operation is as follows: It is understood that when it is desired to plant the seed in hills the valve 36, Figs. 15 and 24, is turned to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 24, so as to direct the seed into the passages 33 and 71, and then the rotation of the pocket-wheel 41 drops the seed at interf` vals, as will be obvious. It will be noted that the seed from the hopper 55 enters the pockets 42 through the tops and sides of the latter, as will be apparent on referring to Figs. 5, 24, and 30. The passage 71 is omitted in Fig. 5 so as to clearly illustrate other parts. The lug 72 (see Fig. 29) causes a Aportion of the seed to flow into a pocket 42 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 30. When the valve is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 24, the seed will be dropped in a continuous stream, and when the seed is being dropped in a continuous stream the block 2O is moved outwardly to the position shown in Fig.' 10, so that the same from accumulating upon the forwardlyprojecting part of the runner, since the forward end of the runner is guarded by the side sections of the Wheel, as shown in Fig. 24. The runner makesa furrow in the usual manner, into which the seed is dropped in the manner described, while the shovel or scraper 89 covers the seed with earth. The rear wheel 3 then forms a hill of the shape shown in Fig. 26, the central concave portion 24 of said wheel forming a round hill 91, while the flaring portions 25 form downwardly-sloping slides92, which have a tendency to lead the water from the hill to preserve the latter. As the drill advances, the cam-wheel vibrates the agitator 67 and top piece 62 to cause the seed to be fed steadily, since the agitator 67 and the top piece 62 cause a movement of the seed at the lower end of the hopper and in the contracted chute, and thus prevents the same from clogging.

The seed in the hopper 55 is prevented from flowing in a direct line to the valve 76 by reason of the wall 72, which` causes the seed to follow the course indicated by the arrows in Fig. 17, thereby relieving the valve 76 of a considerable weight of the seed in the hopper 55.

The finger 73 and the shoulder 93 on the top piece 62 (see Figs. 18 and 22) serve as agitators for the seed in the chute 56.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- 1. A seed drill, having a divided front wheel, having iianges united between the wheel-sections and a runner having its forward end situated between the sides thereof.

2. A seed drill, having a divided front wheel, and a runner having a tapering and upwardly-extending front end portion situated between the sides of said wheel, the toe of said runner extending inwardly ofthe periphery of said wheel.

3. A seed drill, having a divided front wheel provided with a concave periphery, and a runner having an upwardly-extending front end situated between the sides of said wheel and inwardly of the periphery thereof.

4. A seed-drill having a divided front wheel with concave periphery and provided with a vertically-adjustable runner having an up.- wardly-extending front end situated between the sides of the wheel and inwardly of the periphery thereof.

5. In a seed-drill, a frame, supporting-A Wheels, sockets upon said frame, a runner having its forward end tapered and extend`- IOO of the front wheel and upwardly-extending arms movably mounted in said socket, and a setscrew applied to one of said sockets and adapted to engage the arm situated therein.

6. In a seed-drill, a runner provided with a plurality of passages leading from a common chamber, a valve situated at the point of communication between said passages and chamber and adapted to close one passage and open the other, one of said passages leading to the open lower end of the runner, the other of said passages leading to a chamber that is provided with an opening at the lower end of the runner, and a friction device for holding the valve in its adjusted position, and a rotatable pocket-wheel situated within said chamber.

7. In a seed-drill, a runner having a chamber communicating with the passage leading from the seed-hopper and having an opening at the lower end of the runner, and a rotatable pocket-wheel removably mounted in said chamber, and a movable plate on the side of the runner.

8. In a seed-drill, a runner having a chamber communicating with a passage leading from the seed-hopper and having an opening at the lower end of the runner, a pocketwheel rotatably mounted in said chamber, supporting-wheels for said seed-drill, and gearing between one of said supportingwheels and said pocket-wheel.

9. In a seed-drill, a runner having a chamber communicating with a passage leading from the seed-hopperand having an opening at the lower end of the runner, a pocketwheel rotatably mounted in said chamber, supporting-wheels for said seed-drill, gearing between one of said supporting-wheels and said pocket-wheel, and means for disconnecting the gearing between said wheel and said pocket-wheel.

10. In a seed-drill, a runner having a chamber communicating with a passage leading from the seed-hopper and having an opening at the lower end of the runner, a pocket- Wheel rotatably mounted in said chamber, supporting-wheels for said seed-drill, gearing between said pocket-wheel and a gear rotatably mounted upon the axle of one of said supporting-wheels,and means for connecting and disconnecting said gear with saidsupportingwheel.

11. In a seed-drill, a runner having a chamber communicating with a passage leading from the seed-hopper and having an opening at the lower end of the runner, a pocketwheel rotatably mounted in said chamber, supporting-wheels for said seed-drill, gearing between said pocket-wheel and a gear rotatably mounted upon the axle of one of said supporting-wheels, and coacting members upon said gear and said supporting-wheel adapted to be moved into and out of the path of each other.

12. In a seed-drill, a runner having a chamber communicating with a passage leading from the seed-hopper and having an opening at the lower end of the runner, a pocketwheel rotatably mounted upon a shaft having bearings between the sides of the runner, said gear being provided with a shoulder, and a movable member upon said supporting-wheel adapted to be moved into and out of the path of said shoulder.

13. In a seed-drill, a runner havinga chamber communicating with a passage leading from the seed-hopper and having an opening at the lower end of the runner, a pocketwheel rotatably mounted within said chamber, a gear provided with a shoulder, a shoulder upon said supporting-wheel, and a movable block upon said supporting-wheel, said block overlapping said shoulders and adapted to move into and out of engagement therewith.

14. In a seed-dri1l,supporting-wheels,a vertically-adj ustable runner having a rotatable pocket-wheel, an adjustable gear upon said runner geared to said pocket-wheel, and gearing between said adjustable gear and one of said supporting-wheels.

l5. In a seed-drill,supportingwheels,a ruuner having a rotatable pocket-wheel provided with teeth, gearing between said teeth and a sprocket-wheel on the outside of said runner, and a sprocket-chain trained around said sprocket-wheel of the runner, and a sprocketwheel rotatable with one of said supportingwheels.

16. In a seeddri1l,a runner,a removable rotatable pocket-wheel situated within a chamber therein, gearing between said pocketwheel and one of the supporting-wheels of the device, and a removable plate forming part of the side of the runner and adapted to close said chamber to hold said pocket-wheel in place, whereby when said plate is removed, said pocket-wheel can be removed and replaced by others.

17. In a seed-drill, a hopper provided with a chute leading from its lower end, apassage leading to the runner communicating with the lower end of said chute, an agitator slid- 4ingly mounted, and means connected with one of the supporting-wheels of the device for actuating said agita-tor.

18. In a seed-drill, a hopper provided with a chute leading from its lower end, a passage leading to the runner and communicating with the lower end of said chute, an opening at the upper end of said chute forming guides, an agitator slidingly mounted in said guides, and means connected with one end of the supporting-wheels of the device for actuating said agitator, and a valve on the outside of said agitator having connection with said agitator.

19. In a seed-drill, a hopper provided with a chute leading from the lower end thereof and communicating with the passage leading to the runner of the device, an agitator slidingly disposed at the upper end of said chute, and a vibratory slide mounted at the lower IOO IOS

IIO

end of said chute and provided Withan opening through which the seed can pass.

20. In a seed-drill, a hopper provided with a chute communicating withI passages leading to the runner, a vibratory slide at the lower end of said chute having an opening for the passage of the seed, and an adjustable valve movable with said slide.

21. In aseed-drill, a hopper having a chute communicating with the` passage leading to the runner, a vibratory slide at the lower end of said chute, a valve having an opening at its lower end situated next to said slide provided With a slot at its upper end through which a pin carried by the slide passes, a cam mounted upon said pin and engaging a shoulder upon the said valve, and means for holding said parts rigid With relation to each other.

22. In a seed-drill, a frame, an inclined plate mounted thereon and having an opening at/its lower end situated over an opening in the frame leading to the runner, a chute mounted upon said plate, the lower end of said plate being situated adjacent to the opening in said plate,a hopper mounted upon agitating device applied to the chute leading therefrom, a cam vvheel movable With one of the supporting-Wheels, a link connected with said agitating device, said link being engaged by said cam-Wheel, and a spring connected with said agitating devices and adapted to move same in opposition to the movementimparted by the cam.

ALLEN MCWHORTER. Witnesses: E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS, WM. CANER WIEDERSHEIM. 

